The employees of Smith Enterprises received wage increases ranging fro

mynamegoeson I agree, the prompt is confusing.

We don't have a typical baseline. But everyone gets at least 30 cents (* 40 hours) = $12 per week.

I lean towards your first inclination to take range into account. The largest increase is $35. But everyone's wage increases by at least $12 per week. I think that's the baseline, i.e., "maximum" seems relative to changed conditions.

If some get $35, but all get $12, then the maximum increase is $23. The $35 recipients would have gotten $12 no matter what.

Answer B

(I think the case for D is equally valid because "maximum" here is too ambiguous to interpret, even in context. I'm going with intuition, which could be a terrible idea.)

The question asks about the increase for 40 hour week.
Increase =87.5-30*40/100= 23$
B should be the answer.

At first glance, it appears that the maximum wage increase should belong to the employee who will receive the maximum per hour increase should be 87.5*40=$35

Can you, please, elaborate on your solution a little bit more?
Thanks

Q- The employees of Smith Enterprises received wage increases ranging from 30 cents to 87.5 cents per hour. What was the maximum wage increase for a 40-hour week?

The wage of employees increases from 30 to 87.5,i.e. 57.5 cents per hour increment.
The max wage increase = 57.5*40=2300 cents=23$

The maximum wage increase was $0.875 x 40 = $35.

Answer: D

Did exactly this. Why is this answer wrong? Doesn't the question ask for the increase and not the maximum wage?

..


Hi,

all those who are reading it wrongly..

what is the increase -- 30, 31, 35... 87.5
what does Q ask ? maximum wage increase for a 40-hour week
It is clear-- max increase *40 and that is why 35 is the answer..

So what are you all finding by getting answer 23?
you are finding the range of increase in 40 hour week.

let me reword ..
three members A,B,C... A gets 30cents per hour increase, B gets 45cents per hour increase and C gets 87.5cents per hour increase. Find out who gets the MAX wage increase in 40 hour week and how much?
what will be your answer?

Hi All,

We're told that the employees of Smith Enterprises received wage increases ranging from 30 cents to 87.5 cents per hour. We're asked for the MAXIMUM wage increase for a 40-hour week. This question comes down to some basic arithmetic (but you might find it faster to do your math in a couple of smaller steps instead of one big step).

Since the largest wage increase is 87.5 cents/hour, we have to multiply that by 40 hours to find the maximum wage increase for a 40-hour week. Depending on how you choose to multiply those numbers, you could start by 'multiplying out' that decimal by multiplying by 2 and then multiplying that result by 20...

(87.5)(2) = 175 cents

(175)(20) = 3500 cents = $35.00

Final Answer:

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

Hello from the GMAT Club BumpBot!

Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email.